MORION'S TRAVEL

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Morion's Travel Diaries| BEAT THE SUMMER HEAT in Siargao Island

April 13,2013. I am presently here in Siargao Island of Surigao del Norte for usual social development works. I arrived here on Tuesday and planning to stay until Sunday morning. If only I don't have scheduled commitments in Butuan and Cagayan de Oro next week, I will just stay and do my works here. Got addicted and truly deeply in-love with Siargao’s charm and beauty. No other place in the Philippines could replace Siargao in my heart. I consider this beautiful island as one of my comfort zones. White-sand beaches, amazing rock formations, vast green mangrove forests, turquoise water, enchanting lagoons, surprisingly full of adventure caves, beautiful places and people equals Siargao Island!

"Truly, this Island is a paradise. This is the place where I can write poems and serious literary works. This is the place where I can find serenity. Every strike of waves is an action; its sunset is a drama; the sea is fantasy; the sands and pebbles are never ending stories of beauty and glamour… So this is Siargao! This is the place where I can put back pieces of ME during dark seasons of my life. This is my place –my paradise..."

I woke-up this Saturday morning with ringing of my mobile phone (alarm). 8:30 AM na pala :)- we’re going to Pacifico Beach and will try surfing for the second time. I almost got late as the call time was set @ 8:00 AM. Thanks to my colleagues’ patience in waiting. I've experienced the best massage last night- healing my back pain because of more than 2 hours long Habal-Habal ride (on Wednesday) from Del Carmen to San Isidro (via Sta. Monica-Burgos road) then another 1 hour travel back to Dapa. No regrets! Back pains can be healed but the experience and still moments in my P and S Cam are priceless!

TRAVEL DIARY NOTES|

FIRST DAY April 09: Bataan Day- HOLIDAY. As soon as we arrived in Dapa Port around 8:00am from Surigao City my excitement meter never goes down. A day before, Ace (a colleague in Siargao) confirmed our Sohoton Tour. From Dapa Port of Siargao Island we took almost 2 hours boat ride going to Sohoton National Park of Bucas Grande Groups of Islands - covered by Municipality of Socorro, Surigao del Norte. Since Bucas Grande is not part of Siargao Island, I decided to write a separate post about our BUCAS GRANDE Adventures. CLICK HERE.

The famed "Horse Foot" Rock Formation in Sohoton Cove

SECOND DAY April 10: My second time to see/visit Sta. Monica’s
Taktak Falls while on travel from Del Carmen to San isidro.

Taktak Falls of Sta. Monica

THIRD
DAY April 11: On our way back to Dapa around 5:30 PM we've got the chance to witness the opening of Pilar’s Game Fishing
Competition joined by both local and international hook fishing participants and do quick visit and photowalk in Caridad Public Beach. Late in
the afternoon we traveled San isidro – Pilar road going back to Dapa- made our Round Siargao Island Tour close to 80%. We also made a short stop-over in the country's newest crocodile sanctuary- a large swamp in Barangay Jaboy of Pilar, where releasing of 36 Philippine freshwater crocodiles initiated by Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) happened just this month.

Powder White Sand Beach of Caridad Public Beach in Municipality of Pilar

Thirty-six Philippine freshwater crocodiles were released in this Lagoon in Barangay Jaboy, Pilar-Siargao Islands

Fourth Day April 12: After doing the usual community visits, we then managed to do a quick tour in the surfing capital of the country, Cloud 9 in General Luna - that completes our RoundSiargao Island Tour.

TODAY: So I just washed my face and ate breakfast (rice +sautéed Ampalaya with eggs+ daing) then find our way going to Pacifico Beach of San Isidro. Pacifico Beach is actually a public beach and one of the best surfing spots in Siargao. Waves are huge and perfect for surfing - equally same in Cloud 9 of General Luna.WORLDLESS! Just see the photographs and imagine me swimming, surfing, breathing, jumping, diving, anything… to BEAT the SUMMER HEAT in Siargao!

If you are interested to
do/learn surfing, I highly recommend our trainer - Wemar Bonono. He owns a
surfing board and available anytime @ 09094146762- for negotiable amount of
training fee- Almost FREE I Assure!

Airphil Express and Cebu pacific flies directly from Manila to Surigao City daily.

From Surigao City.Passenger Boats or Lantsa departs in Surigao Boulevard Port as early as 5:30 am (fare 250 pesos) while Montenegro RORO vessel is scheduled to depart in Surigao Port @ 12:00 noon (fare is 173 for ordinary and around 200-250 for air-conditioned room).

****ALL ARE BOUND TO DAPA PORT OF SIARGAO ISLAND.

There is also a passenger boat from Surigao Port going to the town of Del Carmen (other entry point to Siargao Island) - departs around 10:00-10:15 in the morning (fare is 250 pesos).

Cebu Pacific directly flies from Cebu to Siargao and if your from Manila take Manila-Cebu-Siargao connecting flight. Visit CebuPac's website www.cebupacificair.com for further details.

From Butuan, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and other parts of Mindanao

Ride a Bus or Van bound to Surigao City (Integrated Land Transportation Terminal). From the Terminal ride in a tricycle or multicab bound to Pier/Port Area (RORO) or Boulevard (Passenger Boats/Lantsa)

Habal-Habal(motorcycles with timber flat wings) and tricycles are the common inland transportation in the Island. From Siargao Airport (by plane)/ Dapa Port (by passenger boat/RORO/fastcraft) you can hire Habal-Habal or Tricycle that will bring you to your destination in Siargao Island.
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Let's #explore7107islands

This is my entry to Pinoy Travel Bloggers’ Blog Carnival for May 2013, with the theme: “Summer 2013” hosted by Jona of Backpacking with a Book

Beautiful pictures and captures, great job :) I have never been to Siargao though I heard it before and even my sister and her family went their few days ago :) The beach looks so inviting :) We only have lake here and not as clean as Siargao but will take it :)

Loving the photos, Jeffrey! I also love the fact that you've chosen Siargao as one of your favorite places in the Philippines. It truly shows in this travel story of yours. Tour mo naman ako dito pagpunta ko, if ever you do get the chance to go back. :)

Amazing!I was thinking, I should book my ticket now. hahaha! Anatayin ko nalang ang sahod time, cant wait toride the surf here.. I cant listen to any more stories when I havent been to Siargao.My bet, iitim ako ng sobra dito.

Hi! From Surigao here! Yes, born and raised there. Anyway I've been to Siargao when I was still a child and until now I can still remember how beautiful the place is! Even the waters are so deep and blue - I even swam for the first time on the deep waters of the Pacific! You should go and have your vacation their! It's worth it!

About Me

Traveling Morion is a [frustrated] photographer, [diary] writer, and [self-proclaimed] travel blogger. He is currently working as a Social Development Practitioner and spends his non-working days in traveling, blogging, and photography.
BTW, he is also a certified gwapo [in 360 photos] and suplado.
#travelingmorion